The Portland daily press., 1887-09-14
BEcALMEp RACERS.
First Trial Between the Volunteer
and MayfIower Postponed.
Light Winds and a Dead Calm Pre-
vent a Finish.
The Thistle Gives an Earnest OF
What She Can Do.

New YORK, Sept 13.-The day selected for
the first Of the trial races between the May
flower and Volunteer dawned with leaden
skies and little OF no wind. To add to the
general disagreeableness, a slight mist set In
about $50, which gave promise to last
throughout the day. The crews of both
yachts were astir early, making preparations
for the contest. Boats of all description
fiocked about the two rivals as they lay at
anchor of Bay Ridge. The judges boat
WIS early on hand, and took up its position
at the starting point of Owls Head. The
course was from Buoy IS. off Owls Head.
thence to Buoy 10. passing to the west and
south Of it; thence to Buoy ~, passing south
of it and north Of Buoy 5, off Sandy Hook,
to and around Sandy Hook lightship, turning
1t from north to east, and then returning
over the same course TO the westward Of the
hsme stake-boat which was anchored off
Buoy Is, off Clifton, Staten Island. The
whole distance to be sailed would aggregate
3S miles.
The start was made about 10.45, both boats
getting away nearly together. The Volun-
teer set her balloon-jib-topsail as she went
over. and the Mayfiower followed with hers
Immediately after.
The Volunteer increased the lead she
gained on the start. and as she passed Fort
Wadsworth at 11.20 she was about 20 lengths
ahead of the Mayhower. Her rival, the
Thistle, who had drifted into mid-stream,
became so becalmed that she was pulled out
of the way of the racers by tug, and she
then started on her course again, and fol-
lowed the racers again down the bay.
The effect of the spinnaker on the VOlun-
teer was remarkable, for the moment she
broke 1t out she began to add to the distance
between her and her adversary.
mir lato hQ MaU nj
her spinnaker. which she accomplished pret-
tily in 10 seconds. Both boats stood off ON
the port tack, with the Volunteer still gain
ing on the Mayfiower.
At 11.39 the Volunteer jibed to starboard
and stepped along at an increased rste. The
Mayiower followed her example minute
loter, at 11.40. At that time the Mayfower
was about quarter of mile to the wind
ward. The wind then freshened trife and
the Mayiiower seemed to be picking up on
her rival. The Thistle, which had gone to
windward about hall q mile; was gaining on
the other yachts. With the help of puff Of
wind, which the others did not get, the
ScOtchman lpassed the American yachts
half mile from the line. Then the Volunteer
passed her and the Mayfi0wer caught up.
After this the Volunteer kept getting de-
cided lead. only to be overhauled by the
Mayfower. In the 81 miles run to buoy No.
10 the racers were never more than quarter
of mile apart. When they finally came TO
anchor off Sandy Hook Beach, they were so
close together that biscuit could almost
have been tossed from one deck to the other.
The yachts sailed ii miles In four hours and
seven minutes They were becalmed, how
ever, before they had gotten half over the
course, making It necessary for the judges to
postpone the race. The next contest will be
on Thursday, over course twenty miles to
windward and return from Scotland Light
ship.
The Yachts and their Captains.
Below will be found the dimensions Of the
new sloop Volunteer, compared with those
of the Mayfower, her only competitor for
the honor of meeting the Thistle: